Free Split PDF Tool

Cut one PDF into single pages or custom page ranges. Each range becomes its own file, with no watermark and no account needed.

Max file size: 60 MB Get 500 MB per upload, free Sign up free
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Split a PDF Into Separate Pages or Custom Ranges

Quick answer: To split a PDF, upload it, choose Individual pages or Custom ranges and press Split PDF. Each page or range becomes its own file, and Download All saves two or more files as a ZIP archive. Try it with your own PDF.

How to Split a PDF Online for Free

This free PDF splitter takes four steps.

  1. Choose the PDF. Press Select a File or drop it on Drop PDF File Here. One PDF at a time.
  2. Pick a Split Mode. Individual pages (one PDF per page) is the default. Custom ranges adds a Page Ranges box: type page numbers like 1-3,4-6.
  3. Press Split PDF. A bad range gets a message at the top: "The range 10-12 goes past the last page, this PDF has 6 pages." Your file stays selected.
  4. Download the files. Each file gets a button; Download All (two or more files) saves split-pdf.zip.

Split a PDF by Page Range: Examples and the Files You Get

Type comma separated ranges for one file per range, so 1-10,11-20,21-30 cuts every ten pages by hand. Unlisted pages are skipped.

You typeFiles you get
1-3,4-6pages_1-3.pdf and pages_4-6.pdf
1-3,5pages_1-3.pdf and page_5.pdf, two files
1-3,2-4pages_1-3.pdf and pages_2-4.pdf (overlapping ranges)
10-12 in a 6-page PDFRefused

Need pages 1, 3 and 5 in one file? Use the extract pages tool.

What Each Split File Keeps and What It Loses

pikepdf, built on qpdf, copies pages into a new PDF instead of redrawing them. Text, page size, rotation and web links carry over, but document-wide metadata does not; keep the original.

  • Bookmarks. Each new file loses the navigation that bookmarks in PDF documents give readers, because the document outline (PDF bookmarks) is not copied.
  • Properties. Document title, author, subject, keywords, attached files, page labels, passwords and print and copy permissions are not copied. A tagged PDF we tested lost its tags and document language.
  • Links and forms. Links into another piece go dead, named destination links break even inside one piece, and AcroForm (interactive form) fields may stop being fillable.
  • Layers. Dropping the optional content group (PDF layers) makes text from a switched-off layer visible.

Why the Pieces Add Up to More Than the Original

A split page must stand alone: some exporters give every page one shared list of all the embedded fonts, which means each piece carries every one. In our tests, Individual pages turned a 16-page LibreOffice export from 149 KB into 1.6 MB combined, about eleven times. The PDF compressor can win much of that back, though a lean piece may not shrink.

Passwords and Scanned PDFs

Both cases end at another tool.

  • Passwords. The page asks for the open password, but the pieces come out unlocked: lock them again.
  • Scans. A scanned PDF splits but stays pictures. For searchable text, run OCR first.

Related PDF Tools

Common next stops after a split:

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) is a list of common questions and answers provided to quickly address common concerns or inquiries.

How do I split a PDF into separate pages for free?

Select the PDF, leave Split Mode on Individual pages (one PDF per page), press Split PDF, then download one by one or with Download All. A 6-page document becomes six PDF files, no watermark, no account needed. Try it above.

Can I split a PDF every few pages or by page range?

By page range, yes. Every few pages automatically, no. Choose Custom ranges and type 1-5,6-10,11-15 for five-page pieces, because every range becomes its own file. There is no every-N or size option, so you type the ranges yourself.

Does splitting a PDF reduce quality or file size?

Quality does not drop in our tests, because pages are copied, not redrawn. Each piece is usually smaller than the original, but together they tend to add up to more. Bookmarks are lost, and text in a switched-off layer shows.

Can I split a password-protected PDF?

Yes, with the open password. The page asks for it when you choose the file, and a wrong one gets the message 'That password is not correct.' The pieces come out with no password, so protect them again if needed.

What happens to my PDF after I upload it?

It goes over HTTPS and is split on our server. The upload is deleted when the job ends. The split files stay at a long random address for about two hours, open to anyone with the link, then are removed.

How big can the PDF be, and is there a page limit?

Up to 60 MB without an account and 500 MB with a free account. No page limit applies: in our tests 200 pages took about 3 seconds. Individual pages on a 200-page file means 200 files, so ranges are tidier.

Can I split a PDF on my phone?

Yes, from a phone browser, with nothing to install. We ran a full split in an emulated 390 px wide phone browser, with no sideways scrolling. Dismiss the cookie notice first, because it can cover the bottom of the screen.
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